Hi there! Here’s what I’m brewing up for Sunday’s FreeSession…
I am looking forward to guiding our group through multiple practices using experiments and sound games to shape and encourage new explorations of sound using both improvisation and spontaneous composition.
I will be drawing ideas from experimental composers and musicians like Cornelius Cardew, James Tenney, Pauline Oliveros, Earle Brown, Derek Bailey, La Monte Young, and Christian Wolff. The goal is to open up preconceived notions of “music” and (hopefully) deepen ones connection with their instrument.
I encourage participants who can come with an open mind and want to take new risks on their instrument. As musicians, especially in performance, we tend to fall back on patterns, riffs, modes, and practice techniques that feel comfortable and accessible. My hope for this session is to create a safe space to broaden our comfort zones a bit. And things just might get pretty weird!
Anyone can participate – no matter your level, age, or experience with music. The exercises will be in mostly large group format, with moments of smaller group work. However, because of the limitations of the room we are using, I would like to maximize on acoustic sounds and try keep electric needs and drum sets to an absolute minimum (acoustic guitars/bass and hand or toy percussion/single drums welcomed!!). Think minimal space requirements. There will be a keyboard, a snare, a tom, and two tiny amps for use. No PA, no mics.
To open up the session, I will be doing a solo cello performance of a few short pieces by Sofia Gubaidulina, Cornelius Cardew, Alba Fernanda Triana, and Phillip Glass that explore limitations and experiments on the instrument. These are meant to share some of my own musical interests, as well as give examples of works that push the boundaries of common notions of music.
Finally, I hope to make this fun! I love to teach and share what I’ve learned in my musical journey – and I look forward to the exchange. I’m excited to make sounds with you. See you there!
My bio:
Jessica spent the majority of her professional life in Los Angeles where she worked as a freelance performing artist and educator. Some of her musical adventures include touring, performing, and/or recording with artists including Carla Bozulich (Geraldine Fibbers/Evangelista), Harold Budd, Nels Cline, Devotchka, The Eels, Fun, Vinny Golia, Trevor Hall, The Heavy, Eleni Mandell, Dave Matthews, Tim Meyers (One Republic), Sheila Nicholls, Linda Ronstadt, Spiritualized, James Tenney, Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Steve Vai, VOCO, Scott Weiland, Emily Wells, The White Buffalo, and Wilco. In addition to live performance, Jessica has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, NBC Music Video Awards, KPFK’s Global Village, and has been a soloist for films Mean Creek, The Strangers, The Covenant, and Levity.
As a teaching artist, Jessica worked for YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) – a partnership of the Harmony Project and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Her students have had the fortune of sitting beside LA Phil musicians in concert, backing up Stevie Wonder, Journey, and The Black Eyed Peas, performing with Grace Potter and Sharon Stone on the Tonight Show, playing the Super Bowl halftime show with Coldplay and Beyonce, and traveling to the White House to play for Michelle Obama and Joshua Bell. She has lead workshops at the University of Auckland (NZ), Universidad de Bogota (Columbia), Music on Main and the Western Front (Vancouver, BC), University of Nebraska (Omaha), Cornish College (Seattle), University of New Mexico (Albq), Lake Tahoe Unified (CA), Port Chester School District (NY), Community Music Works (RI), Greensboro Guilford County Schools (NC), and the California State Summer School for the Arts, among others.
She moved to Missoula in 2013 with her family. Currently, she is founder and lead teacher of Grow Music Missoula and a member of the Missoula Symphony.
And here’s a silly song that has little to do about any of it. It’s about life on a Destroyer Ship:
